UPA blames Jharkhand Police for phone-tapping

The ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in Jharkhand has alleged that telephone lines of their leaders are being tapped by the police, creating a flutter in the political circles.

The allegation got more compounded with the police later detecting that their Geo Stationary Mobile (GSM) gadget had gone missing.

Last year, the police department had purchased for Rs 450 million the GSM which was reportedly with former director general of police (DGP) VD Ram.

The gadget is used to tap both landline and cell phone talks when particular numbers are fed, said a police official.

Jagganath Mahto, a Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) legislator, alleged during a coordination committee meeting of the UPA last week that the gadget was not returned by Ram to the present DGP JB Mahapatra.

The UPA legislators alleged their conversations were being tapped. When the issue was brought to the notice of Chief Minister Madhu Koda, an inquiry was ordered.

The former DGP denied the charges and said he had returned the gadget after quitting from the post.

Ram was closely associated with the previous National Democratic Alliance (NDA) regime and he was elevated to the rank of DGP ignoring the seniority of Mahapatra. Mahapatra was without salary for 14 months as his junior was promoted to the DGP rank.

The role of Ram should be probed, a JMM legislator said.

In Jharkhand there are three such gadgets. One is missing and two are with the state intelligence department.

Telephone tapping is nothing new in Jharkhand. Earlier, an NDA minister had to resign after his conversations of a shady deal was reported in the newspaper.